Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-03-08
A GRAVE PROBLEM.
TOUCHING THE VITAL SPOT IN
OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
How Many Congressmen Shall We Have,
When Our Population shall BE Num-
bered Among the Hundred Millions
a Serious Matter.

! ho" "ahS Nongfessmen shall We Have
When Our Population shall BE Num-
bered Among the Hundred Millions?
A Serious Matter.
Sunset Cox once said that greater and
graVcr problem than that of taxes ald
nnanCe was sure TO arise in the future
and future not very far off, and il is
question that touches the vital spot in our
form of government. That is the ques-
ton Of apportionment. The apportion-
mcnt upon which the present house of
representatives is based is the work main
ly of Mr.. Cox. and he spent many weeks
in most assiduous labor in preparing the
bill. Ii looks very easy, hut it is not All
you have goi 10 do is to decide how many
people shall hr entitled to a representative,
and then divide the total population of
each state by this figure. That will give
the number of representatives each state
is entitled TO. But the trouble is to fix
the ratio. II is a growing trouble, and il
is going to he very difficult. Mr.. Cox in
deed is disposed Ia think that it may be
come a very dangerous trouble, and due TO
the fact that some time or other. not many
generations hence. the population of the
United States will be numbered among the
about raising crops enough to feed l000.-
900, 900 in this country. The whole popu-
lation, - 0OO. 600 by the census of 1880,
might be placed in the state Of Texas and
not be crowded any more than the people
of Great Britain are crowded But when
our population passes 10000, 900 one of
two things must happen. Either the num-
her of the members of the house of repre-
sentativeS must he increased to an alb
surdly large figure, or the smaller states
and those whose population shows the
least percentage of increase must see their
representation in the house constantly
dwindling away. Mr.. Cox. in 1SS0, was
obliged to cut down the number of repre-
scntatives in Vermont, New Hampshire
and Maryland. Nevada wouldn't have
had any representative but for the consti-
tutiOnal provision guaranteeing each state
one, and if the ratio had been few thou
sands larger Delaware would, but for the
constitution, have lost its single repre-
sentative.
Mr.. CoX's first idea was TO fix the num-
Der upon which representation is based at
n larger figure than that adopted. but the
rebellious protests from states which
would thereby lose representative or
two We're SO great that lie did not do il.
Yet it is found that the present member
ship of the house, i25, is too large, both
for convenience and for efficiency in trans |
acting business. Motions have already |
been made to remove the desks and seat |
the members as in the English parlia- |
ment, on benches If at the next appor- |
tionment, which follows the census taken |
three years hence, the number of repre- |
sentatives is increased, congress will be |
oh hnr 70 tTh
Der of the house or huddIe the members |
together on benches. Mr.. Cox is inclined |
to think that there will be needed in the !
congress that follows that census the high |
est qualities Of prudence and statesman |
ship, in order to prepare an apportion- !
ment bill that will stand the least chance |
Of becoming law. One thing is certain |
If the present ratio is retained the house |
will number between 400 and 800 mem |
bers. while, on the other hand if the num- |
Der which makes the basis is increased |
many of the older states will lose repre-
scntative~. 10 only one or two will be al /
lotted any increased number, while the ,
new states in the Mississippi valley will |
in any event have greatly increased rep /
reSentatIun. Ii is estimated that the pop /
ulation in 1890 will be found To DE be
tween d. 600 600 and o.. 600. 900, n greater |
number than any republic ever had, u
greater number than any limited or con-
stitut!Onal monarchy now has At least
20 per cent of this increase will be found
beyond the Mississippi and 30 per cent. Of
il beyond the Alleghanies.
II. then. it be decided that no state is
to lose its present number of representa-
tiyes, the number of members in the next
house will he $50 approximately. New
York. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
woIld gain-New York two, probably,
the other two states one. possibly; but it
is probable that not another state east of
the Allegbenics, with the posS ole eXcep-
ton of Georgia, would gain a single one
of the l2J new members, Nor would
there he any great gains in any of the
states east Of the Mississippi. Ii is prob
able that from 80 to 100 of these new
members would be apportioned to the
great states west of the Mississippi Texas
would press New York very hard as the
state having the largest representation,
Kansas, Nebraska. Missouri Iowa. Min
nesota and Dakota, III admitted, would
gain an increased representation of from
40 To 90 per cent, and Oregon, California
and Washington. If it is admitted, would
rival many of the older states in the num-
Der of their representatives.
But it will be difficult TO induce any
congress To pass an apportiOnment bill
fixing the number of new members at
larger figure than $50. Should that num-
Der he selected it would fix the ratio of
representation approximately at one for
each $4,000 Of population. This would
certainly very greatly reduce the represen-
taton of the older states and, if the num-
Der of members be kept at the present
figure l32 D. New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island, Florida and Nevada would
pc represented by only one member each;
Maine, Connecticut and Maryland by
three: and il Is doubtful If a single state
east of the Allcghanies would gain MEM
ber Since the census Of 1910 the states
on the Atlantic slope have steadily lost.
New York once had - members Massa-
chusettS Is, Virginia 20, Maine !. Connec-
ticut ); but though the population Of none
of these states has decreased, and the total
population is more than twice rs great as
il was in 1910. and the number of mem
bers of the house more than four times rs
many as Were in the First congress, yet
since 1910 every state on the Atlantic
slope has lost representation. And though
by the year 1900 our population will be
not far from 90. 900. .OOO. these states must
either submit to further losses or else the
house of representatives must be cOnsti-
tuted the largest legislative body in his
torv.-New York sun.
The lace OF Singer.
In his why We Sing Hayden 1illa |